~ Book reviews from the VC/UHV Library

Lean In (bk rvw)

Lean In is an engaging manifesto of sorts for women to seize opportunities and “sit at the table” because they are just as valuable, if not crucial in contributing to the success of businesses and organizations. It is without the political fanfare that plagues many books like it, particularly because it’s heavily backed up by research on gender perceptions in the workplace, which unfortunately cast a negative light on women in leadership roles.

Author and current Facebook Chief Operating Officer, Sheryl Sandberg empowers women to lean in to their careers, their dreams, their goals, as well as to aim in striking balance within their lives without losing sight of their own path, regardless of marital or parental status. She also shares her wisdom from personal experiences through timely advice and cautionary tales.

Although statistics noted in this book are unsettling, the author uses them as a catalyst to motivate both men and women to examine their own biases and workplace culture in order to ignite change and transform societal barriers. Lean In isn’t fully antidotal or provides cookie cutter solutions to these issues, but it brings to light a dialogue for readers to address these issues head on.

Overall, Lean In is indirectly energizing. I think of it as being indirectly energizing because I was so frustrated by the generalities and perceptions of some of the men, women, and results of studies described in this book, that it left me with the charge on how not to think. How do you perceive female counterparts in business? Who would you favorably hire, a man or women – with the exact same credentials? Who do you find more comfortable leading you and why? Whether you’ve considered these questions or it never crossed your mind, I recommend both men and women to read this book for it to make an impression on the consciousness that exist both in the workplace and at home. I’m grateful to Sandberg for writing this book because its message is long overdue.